Puerto Rico Secretary of Justice Lourdes L. Gómez Torres announced 41 charges filed in 13 separate cases of sexual assault, lewd acts, incest, child abuse and neglect, resulting from investigations by prosecutors’ offices in Aibonito, Arecibo and Bayamón. Courts in all three judicial regions found cause for arrest against every defendant, with total combined bail set at $1.9 million.
Eight defendants remain under electronic monitoring, three were jailed, and two were charged in absentia after failing to appear despite being properly summoned. In Bayamón, six investigations produced charges, including against Jeanette Mercado Pagán, who assaulted two minors in front of a school in Guaynabo in an incident that went viral on social media; her preliminary hearing is set for October 6.
Alexis García Hernández faces sexual assault, lewd acts and abuse charges, while Verónica Cruz Pérez faces one abuse charge; both were charged in absentia. Kelvin Joel Robles Martínez was charged with sexual assault and lewd acts involving a minor, with a preliminary hearing also set for October 6. Carlos Manuel Nieves Vázquez faces lewd acts and abuse charges involving a minor.
Prosecutors and agents named include Daniela Mejías Burgos, Ashley Trinidad González, Roneil Louzau Pastrana, Luis Pabón Sam, and Ednaris Rosa Nales.